House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks at a progressive fundraiser in Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 2, 2018. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Political newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed a slew of hopeful far-left candidates in the Democratic primaries in an effort to capitalize on her surprise victory in New York. However, most of them ended up losing on Aug. 7.
Ocasio-Cortez defeated long-serving Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) on June. 26, in a stunning upset. The Bronx-born, 28-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has been dubbed by some as the “new face” of the Democratic Party.
In the past few weeks, Ocasio-Cortez hit the campaign trail running to endorse five prospects of the progressive left. She campaigned for Abdul El-Sayed for governor of Michigan, Fayrouz Saad in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, Cori Bush in Missouri’s 1st District, James Thompson in Kansas’s 4th District, and Rashida Tlaib in Michigan’s 13th District.
New York Democrat candidate for Congress Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigns for Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a rally on the campus of Wayne State University July 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
She also backed candidate Kaniela Ing in Hawaii along with a number of other progressives whose primary elections have not yet begun.
“We’ve got about ONE WEEK LEFT until a whole slew of elections come up across the country,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a July 31. Twitter post. “From @KanielaIng & @SaadforCongress to @AbdulElSayed & @CoriBush, it’s time to leave it all on the field.”
According to the results on Aug. 7, two out of the five candidates she endorsed won—Tlaib, who won Michigan’s primary and will run unopposed in the upcoming general election, and James Thompson also won District 4 in Kansas.
Saad lost, coming in at number four in a five-way race, amassing 17,524 votes, or 19.4 percent of the vote, according to the latest data from BallotPedia. Haley Stevens, who got the lead spot, garnered 23,997 votes, or 27 percent.
El-Sayed also lost his bid for Governor of Michigan to Gretchen Whitmer, who had 52 percent compared to his 30 percent.
Congressional nominee Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (L) stands with Zephyr Teachout after endorsing her for New York City Public Advocate on July 12, 2018 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Bush had a similar result, losing in Missouri’s first District primary to William Lacy Clay, 56.7 percent to 36.9 percent.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been rigorously campaigning and endorsing Republican candidates in contested races that could decide the control of the House. Trump attended a trio of almost back-to-back rallies last week at stadiums packed with supporters.
Trump has had a high success rate of endorsement wins in recent primaries. On Twitter, he dismissed talk of a reported “blue wave” comeback for Democrats.
“As long as I campaign and/or support Senate and House candidates (within reason), they will win! I LOVE the people, & they certainly seem to like the job I’m doing,” he wrote on Aug. 8. “If I find the time, in between China, Iran, the Economy and much more, which I must, we will have a giant Red Wave!”
Friends Read Free